The ‘Down By The Jetty’ tour
Lee Brilleaux (harmonica, vocals) / Wilko Johnson (guitars, vocals) / John B. Sparks (bass) / John “Figure” Martin (drums, vocals)
Fast forward seven months and this band would be one of the stand-out performers at the upcoming Reading Rock Festival in August, but for now this was my first opportunity to catch the Feelgoods in action.
I had read a lot about them and really liked their brand new debut album ‘Down By The Jetty’ which had only just been released. This new brand of pub-rock in the style of good old rock with some blues chucked in for good measure was great to listen to and to see live.
I seem to recall that the band performed in their slick suits and got as sweaty as hell in the small confines of the Penthouse and under the hot lights. Brilleaux was brilliant – ha! 🙂 – with his harmonica, spitting out the vocals, whilst Wilko was the Wilko that we all came to know and love, strutting his stuff, juggernauting back and forth whilst chopping away at his Fender Stratocaster (the performance of ‘Roxette‘ being a prime example).
Another great night’s entertainment!
Probable setlist: I Can Tell; Twenty Yards Behind; One Weekend; She Does It Right; The More I Give; I Don’t Mind; Roxette; Boom Boom; Route 66; I’m a Hog for You; Riot in Cell Block #9; Bonie Moronie / Tequila (from four days later at Watford Town Hall as part of the ‘Naughty Rhythms Tour’)
Gigs'n'Stuff 
Saw them that same night at The Penthouse – a great night. Saw them again two and a bit years later. In May 1977, Steve Toal and I, plus three other lads from Scarborough, had a week on a boat on the Norfolk Broads. Our week started at Wembley, where we watched the Boro beat the Daggers to lift the FA Trophy for the third time. Later that week Steve and I went into Norwich to see Dr Feelgood. It was a great week. In 1977 I would never have believed that I would end up living in the area of the Norfolk Broads. When we bought our house in Norfolk we dealt with an estate agent who also lives in our village. When chatting to him I mentioned having been to Norwich in 1977 to see Dr Feelgood – amazingly, he had been to the same gig.
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It’s a small world, Andy, and it’s getting smaller every day.
As for the Feelgoods, we both saw them in their prime – the original line-up. 👍
Roger 🤟
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